Segmented rotor blade for a wind turbine

Abstract

Provide is a rotor blade for a wind turbine, including a hollow blade body with a root and a tip, wherein the blade body is split along a split plane into two body parts, one extending from the root to a first connection section and the other extending from a second connection section to the tip, wherein the first and the second connection sections are adapted to overlap each other in the connected position.

The invention claimed is: 
     
       1. A rotor blade for a wind turbine, comprising
 a hollow blade body with a root and a tip wherein the hollow blade body is split along a split plane into a first body part and a second body part, the first body part extending from the root to a first connection section and the second body part extending from a second connection section to the tip; 
 wherein the first connection section and the second connection section are configured to overlap each other in a connected position; 
 wherein the split plane is in an area where the rotor blade has a convex peripheral geometry and where the rotor blade has a single curved cross-section seen in a direction from the root to the tip; 
 wherein a circumference of the first body part continuously decreases from the first connection section to an end of the root, and a circumference of the second body part continuously increases from the tip towards the second connection section; 
 wherein the first connection section and the second connection section have a conical geometry configured to insert one connection section into the other connection section, the conical geometry of the first connection section defined by an outer circumference gradually decreasing towards the split plane, and the conical geometry of the second connection section defined by an inner circumference gradually increasing towards the split plane. 
 
     
     
       2. The rotor blade according to  claim 1 , wherein the single curved cross section is circular, oval or egg-shaped. 
     
     
       3. The rotor blade according to  claim 1 , wherein the first connection section and the second connection section are interlocked with a form fit. 
     
     
       4. The rotor blade according to  claim 1 , wherein the first connection section is inserted into the second connection section. 
     
     
       5. The rotor blade according to  claim 1 , further comprising, at the first connection section and/or at the second connection section, one or more slits extending from an end edge over at least a part of a length of the first connection section and/or the second connection section. 
     
     
       6. The rotor blade according to  claim 1 , further comprising a connection or a stiffening means extending at inner surfaces and bridging a transition region from the first connection section to the second connection section. 
     
     
       7. The rotor blade according to  claim 6 , wherein the connection or the stiffening means comprises one or more webs or sheets attached to the inner surfaces. 
     
     
       8. The rotor blade according to  claim 7 , wherein the connection or the stiffening means comprises at least one web or sheet extending along an inner circumference for at least 360 degrees. 
     
     
       9. The rotor blade according to  claim 7 , wherein the connection or the stiffening means comprises several band- or strip-like webs or sheets extending in a longitudinal direction over the transition region and being distanced to each other along an inner circumference. 
     
     
       10. The rotor blade according to  claim 7 , wherein the webs or sheets are attached by means of a hardened bonding agent, by lamination or by vacuum assisted resin transfer molding. 
     
     
       11. The rotor blade according to  claim 1 , wherein the split plane is at an inboard section of the hollow blade body. 
     
     
       12. A wind turbine, comprising a rotor with at least one rotor blade according to  claim 1 . 
     
     
       13. The rotor blade according to  claim 1 , wherein the circumference of the first body part decreases at the first connection section such that the first connection section is tapered. 
     
     
       14. The rotor blade according to  claim 13 , wherein the second connection section is tapered. 
     
     
       15. The rotor blade according to  claim 1 , wherein the first body part and the second body part have conical geometries.